asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons who availed of the meals-on-wheels service in Dublin city in the years 1975, 1976, 1977 and the most recent date in 1978.

The total number of persons who availed of the meals-on-wheels service in Dublin city were as follows: 1975, 2,284; 1976, 2,360; 1977, 2,970; 1978, 3,060.

Does the Minister believe that this meets the needs?

No.

Could he give any indication to what extent it fails to meet those needs?

I could not quantify that. I do not think we could ever have a service in any of these areas that would satisfy all of us. The only thing we can do is to keep working at them, improving them and getting more and more dedicated voluntary people to contribute to them.

This is back to the Vincent de Paul. The rate of progress since 1975 has been pitiful.

That is not a supplementary question.

It is a 50 per cent increase. That may be pitiful to the Deputy but——

An increase from one to two is a 100 per cent increase. What is the figure which he thinks is in need of meals on wheels in the city of Dublin? Has he any idea?

I do not know.

Why does he not know?

I know that at the moment there are about——

Why does he not know?

There is no need for this arrogance and contemptuousness——

There is because it is such a——

The Deputy must not adopt this arrogant, abrasive, aggressive attitude. I am trying to supply the House with the information at my disposal——

I will not be lectured by the Minister——

I will not be bullied by the Deputy with his arrogant, selfish assumption that he is the only honest man in this House.

Fair enough, what about the answer?

I am trying to give it. I said that there are 80,000 old people approximately in Dublin——

Eighty thousand or 18,000?

(Cavan-Monaghan): Eighty thousand.

I refuse to answer the Deputy any longer.

I am calling the next question.